The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-13

and just such spell OF weather as
this-Anscomb had acted little
oueerly all winter-longer. It came
on so slowly, with such a steady down
grade that those who saw him every
day, as we did, hardly observed it.
1t was queer. He was an unusually in
telligent man. He was bright in the,
morning, and grew dull, little cloudy,
perhaps, toward night, and wasn't
much seen after dark, when he had q
way OF lingering about the lower barn,
where his cows and young cattle were
kept. He took entire charge OF these,
had them ali well broke; every COW,
heifer and steer, down to the calves,
knew its name, and when the
stable door was opened they
all filed in like company of
drilled soldiers. He had way
OF opening the door, and getting up
on to the "big BEAM" Ia large square
timber known by that name) where
he could see their heads, and called
each by name, and he remained there
talking to them, until somebody came
and called him in to supper. Ii you
happened there any time about dusk,
you were sure to see him from his
perch, calling out to them in his pecul-
lar voice. found him there once or
twice-Pve always been sorry | did
sitting up there, doubled over by apur'
line post, his head canted down on one
side, wearing the little old fragment
OF straw hat-he wore it all that win
ter about the barn. | was sorry
because it helped out the shape
OF the apparition later. Well,
one night = the night he did
not come in supper was ready, and
one OF the smaller girls was sent to
call him. 1t was fifteen rods or so
away, and just growing twilight.
She heard him as she approached the
barn, raped on the outside-the
usual signal-and as he did not answer
she opened the small door and peeped
in. What she saw she did not de-
scribe Immediately. 1t was darker
inside, and gruesome, with all the
cattle munching hay, and their eyes
cleaning in the vanishing light with
dim lambert burning. She was
frightened and ran back to the house,
told something, and one OF the boys
went down, struck a sharp blow
or two on the door, and called
very decidedly. He said he got an
answer, went back, and they
ate supper. As he did not then
come, the older ones went out,
taking lantern. AS they approach
ed the door they heard his voice as
usual, made rap on it and got an
answer they said-waited moment,
called and received no answer, no re-
ply, opened the door, went in, and |
there he hanged, suspended from the
big beam, stone dead-had been dead |
some time. Soon after it came out |
that the little girl saw something hang
ing from his neck.
"Well"-a pause.
mo matter about the shock, the
CHASTITY horror, funeral and all that.
said Dan. 81 had to tell so much,"
said h. "as an introduction. l
don't know who cared for the lower |
barn stock the next morning. took |
the labor on myself the next evening,
as knew Anscomb's ways and his |
cattle about as we'll as he did. As l
said-the weather was about like this,
and that night was just such another, |
and Notwithstanding the horror, the |
charm OF the days and the oncom'ng |
night had in q way been with me |
through it all, and was on me when
went to the old barn in the soft twl- |
light. The moon was shining through |
the openings OF the flecked clouds, as
now"-looking upland | for q mo-
ment forgot the occasion OF my going |
to the barn-the cattle had gathered |
patiently around the stable door, and |
as opened it, as live, cameAnscomb's |
voice, calling each by name, q little |
impatiently, as if the delay was their |
fault. AT the tirst, che illusion was per |
feet. Anscomb was therel / know-I
know, boys,"-he said quickly. ~
thought in q moment-but the call
went on Just the same-seemed to |
me, and / seemed to hear it. Well,
when the last one took his place,
opened the door, on to the floor. OF
course the inside was darker. Well'
"a pause.
The listeners-Well, what9
R.-Well, there Anscomb sat. on the |
big beam, bumped over, his head on
one side, his old hat on as usual, peer.
ing uncannily down at me-"
All in chorus-Dld you look up at |
him?
R.-No, would not look up, / de-
termined would not. l belong to a
set-pausing.
Monro-Not easily upset.
R.-Well, had looked, certainly |
should have seen him, or seemed to-
did not, would not. never have; all
the same, he was Thereon the
;,,,,,rass;o,, that ha WINS as conn.,